Nathan's Letter Dated Mar 18, 2012

Hey guys!

So I just finished playing racquetball with my companion, here in Chile! Haha who would have thought that possible? There is a member in my ward who knows the owner of a racquetball court and they let us come play this morning, and it was a blast!! We played for like an hour and then we had to go, but it was totally worth it :D

So this week we have been waking up at 6:40 in the morning and going running and doing sprints and other exercises to get back into shape. My companion has to be ready to get home and play baseball for college, so we are getting him back into shape. We are also not eating bread at lunch nor drinking carbonated drinks. So far, so good!

So things have been going really well here in La Serena, Chile. The members of our ward are starting to work with their friends to invite them to activities and many are coming and participating. It seems like this week we are going to start teaching several families who are friends with members of the ward.

Besides, we have been teaching Alejandro, the husband of a member of the ward who is getting to know the church. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. He told us yesterday that he has felt like it is true and wants to get baptized soon. I love what he told us in our last lesson. He said, "Elders, I really want to be saved. I want to live with my wife and family for all of eternity". Sweet! So he will probably be getting baptized on the 6th of April, a pretty important date :D

We have been teaching a lot about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Mainly, we have been teaching why Jesus Christ came to this world and why He had to suffer the way He did. It has been amazing to see how it just clicks in people´s mind why He came, and they always have the same attitude of gratefulness. Here is a scriptures that I would like to share with you guys today (2 Nephi 9:20-23):

20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth call things, and there is not anything save he knows it.

21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.

23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

It is that simple! Jesus Christ suffered that we might be able to repent. When we repent and are baptized, we receive a forgiveness of our sins through the grace and mercy of God. Without Christ, we could not repent nor receive forgiveness and we would be lost forever.

I hope you have an awesome week!

Elder Hales